On the recordJune 27, 2019
The gentleman has mischaracterized my statement. Will the gentleman yield? The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Massachusetts has the time. Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I would like us to make sure we provide resources to the border that actually alleviate the crisis. I do not want to be part of an effort to send money to the border to be diverted for whatever this President wants. He has shown us where he is on this issue of the children and on the issue of immigration. And, quite frankly, many of us on this side of the aisle--and, I think, some on the other side of the aisle--are offended by that. So we want to make sure, when we say we are providing relief to this crisis that is affecting so many children, that, in fact, we are providing relief to those children. And that is all we are saying here. Madam Speaker, strengthening requirements for children's health, why would anybody in the Senate want to be opposed to that? Tightening restrictions for children's safety, people are dying in our custody. We should want to prevent that from ever occurring again by supporting nonprofits and community caring for children's well- being. Madam Speaker, this stuff is something that should not be controversial no matter how you look at it, and yet it is for my Republican friends, and I regret that very much. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
